Lift door



P. CARLSON Oct. 14, 1941.

LIFT DOOR Filed Feb. 21, 1939v 3 sheets-sheet 1 TTORNEY Oct. 14, 1941. P. CARLSON 2,258,971

'LIFT DOOR Filed Feb. 2l, 1939 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 PHILIP CARLSON BY Oct.'14, 1941. p CARLSON v 2,258,9714

LIFT DOOR Filed Feb. 2l, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGJ INVENTOR PHIL-IF CARLSON ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES OFFIQE LIFT DOOR Philip Carlson, Long Hill, Conn.

Application February 21, 1939, Serial No. 257,607

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in delivery vehicles and the like and has particular relation to an improved construction and mounting of door for such vehicles.

"The objects and advantages `of the invention will become apparent from a consideration oi the following 'detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a 4satisactory embodiment of the invention is shown.' However, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to the details disciosed but includes all suchvariations land modiiications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scopevof the appended claims.

'In the drawings:

Fig; 1 is aside elevational view, with parts broken away, showing the rear portion of a def livery vehicle provided with the door construction of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the vehicle body; l

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken as along the line 3 3 of Fig. 7

Fig. 4 is lan enlarged sectional view taken as along the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 Tis a -sectional view taken as along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, the view being on an enlarged scale;

F-igf6 is an'enlarged detail sectional view taken as along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Y"Fig 7 isv a greatly enlarged detail sectional view showing the construction at a lower corner of the door;

Fig. 8V is a detail view showing the mounting of a roller at the lower corner of the door; a portion of 'a channel being shown;

' Fig. 9 is an elevational view taken as though looking Lfrom the left in Fig. 8 the channel member being omitted;

Fig. l0 is an elevational view looking toward the rear of the vehicle and showing the mounting of a spring pulley device employed, the rear panel of the vehicle being removed;

Fig. l1 is a view somewhat similar to Fig.A 5 but on ta larger scale and showing a portion of the insulating material used;

Fig. 12 is a detail View showing the mounting of a stop or limiting device in a guideway or channel employed; and

Fig. 13 is a View taken as looking from the right in Fig..12.

Referring in ydetail to the drawings atl is shown a portion of the body of a delivery vehicle. 'Such body has a rear door opening II will be described, to be raised and lowered whereby to move it'to open and closed positions. y

At the vertical sides of the door opening II are vertically arrangeddoor posts I3 and Ill mounting channel members I5 and I6 respectively. Said channel members each include inner and outer nanges Il and I8 and connecting portion I 9 which latter are secured in any suitable manner to the door posts. A

In the drawings the vertical portionsof the channel members are designated 2i). At the upper ends of such'vertical portions the channel members are 'curved as at 2|` 'and beyond the curved portions 2l and inwardly or forwardly of the rear of the vehicle the members include horizontal channel portions 22. The outer flanges I3 'of the channel members at about theupper ends of the vertical .portions 2liA of such members are cut away as between the points 23 and 24 of Figs. 5 and 11 whereby toprovide openings 25 in such flanges. The purpose oi this construction will appear.

The outer surface of the body includes coverings 2S which-maybe 'sheet metal panels and as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and '7 su'chcovering includes portions 27 and`28' projecting beyond the' doorposts I3 and I4 respectively into the doorl opening I'I. Projecting portions 21 and 28 overly the outer flanges I8 of the channel members I5 and I 6 and are spaced slightly from such lianges whereby slots or slot-like channels 29 (see particularly Fig. 7) are provided at the vertical edges of the door opening.

Door I2 in its simplest form includes an outer sheet metal panel 30 the vertical edges lof which are located in the slot 29.V Panel 30 is a single piece of resilient metal and completely spans the door opening II whereby when the door is closed such opening is occupied by one eontinuoussheet of metal. An extension 3| of the panel 3Bv isl located in the curved portion 2I of the channel members when the door is closed and at about the beginning of such curved extension the panel passes through the openings 25 in the outer flanges of the channel members wherebyv such panel extension lies against the inner surface of the curved portions of suchrouter flanges.

In addition to panel 30 the door I2 includes an inner one-piece resilient sheet metal panel 32. At their lower ends the panels 3!) and 32 are connected together as by being attached to a cross piece 33 and the panels are arranged substantially in parallel relation and the space between them is preferably lilled with a heat and cold adapted to' be closed by a dooraIZ mounted, as 55 insulating material 321. The panel 32 extends slightly into the curved portions 2I of the channel members and the upper or free ends 35 and 35 of the panels 30 and 32 preferably are bent into the space between the panels as shown best in Figs. and 11.

The lateral edge portions of the inner door panel 32 are against the outer face of the inner flanges I1 of the channel members. At the cuter side of the door hand pieces 31 are secured preferably to the door portion strengthened by the presence of the cross member 33. Through the use of such hand pieces the door may be raised and lowered in the guideways above described y whereby the door is opened and closed. |The curved portions 2| of the channel members are somewhat wider than the vertical and horizontal portions of such members whereby to prevent binding of the one-piece metal panels 3i) and 32 as the door moves through the said curved channel portions during opening and closing movement.

As each of the panels 30 and 32 includes an upper portion or extension projecting into the curved portions of the channel members it will be apparent that such panels are initially directed into the curved form they must take as the door moves through such curved channel portions. To prevent drumming of the panel 30, particularly should the insulating material and the inner panel 32 be omitted, the outer panel 30 on its inner side is provided with stiflening ribs 38 extending horizontally of the panel. The door may be provided with a lock 39 controlled as by a handle 40.

In each vertical edge portion of the door I2,

adjacent the lower edge or end thereof, a bracket 4I secured to the cross member 33, mounts a roller 42. The rollers 42 are located in the channel members I5 and I6 as well as in recesses in the door and particularly by reference to Fig. 3 it will be noted that the rollers are located to engage either the outer or the inner anges of the channel members whenever any pressure is applied to the door in a direction to pull the door outwardly of the vehicle body or to push it inwardly of such body. Thus damage to the door by the application of pressure thereto in either of the directions indicated is prevented. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that while the inner panel 32 of the door is at the inner face of the inner ange of each channel member such inner door panels are cut away or notched at 43 whereby the inner channel flanges may be engaged by the rollers when occasion requires.

Brackets 44 carrying rubber or other stop devices 45 are secured in the inner ends of the channel members I5 and I6. The devices 45 are secured to the brackets as by means of bolts 46 and are located to be engaged by the inturned end portion 35 of the outer door panel when the door is fully open whereby to prevent further opening movement of the door.

Mounted just above the upper end of the door opening II is a bracket 41 supporting a strip 48 of rubber or other compressible material extending for at least the width of the door opening. Obviously strip 48 is supported independent of the door I2. On the outer door panel 3D is a transversely extending metal strip 49 movable toward and from the compressible strip 48 as the door is closed and opened. The arrangement is such that when the door is in fully closed position the rigid or metal strip 49 is in compressing engagement with the rubber strip 48 whereby a weather-tight seal is provided at the upper edge of the door opening II.

A clip 50 on the lower edge of the door I2 carries a compressible strip 5I of rubber or the like and the relation of the parts is such that when the door is fully closed the strip 5I is pressed against the lower edge portion 52 of the door opening II whereby a weather-tight seal is provided at the lower edge of the door. With the described construction it will be clear that when the door I2 is closed the upper and lower edges of the door opening II are both sealed in a weather-tight manner.

Any water entering the vertical slots 29 will run down through them and will not be conveyed to the interior of the vehicle body. Additionally the later edge portion of door panel 3U being in such slots they are rather well filled and such panel edge portions are usually in engagement with the inner surfaces of the projections 21 and 28 as a tendency for the panel to bulge outwardly is imparted to it due to the fact that its upper portion is in the curved portions 2| of the channel members I5 and I6. The heat and cold insulating material between the panels 3U and 32 serves also to maintain the later edge portions of the panel 30 against the inner surfaces of the projections 21 and 28 and to maintain the lateral edge portions of the inner panel 32 against the outer faces of the inner anges of the channel members. Therefore a double and weather-tight joint is provided at the later or vertical edges of the door when the latter is closed.

On the door posts I3 and I4 adjacent the upper ends thereof are mounted brackets 53 supporting pulleys or drums 54 to which are attached the upper ends of cables 55 adapted to be wound onto and unwound from such pulleys. The cables 55 are trained over pulleys 56 also mounted on the door posts and then the lower ends of the cables are attached to the lower end portion of the door I2 adjacent the lower end thereof as at 51.

Within each pulley 54 is a clock spring 58 having its inner end anchored to the arbor 59 as at 6G and having its outer end anchored to the casing of the pulley as at 6I. When the door I2 is closed the springs 58 are wound about their respective arbors and the cables 55 are substantially unwound from the pulleys. The cables being attached to the door as the latter is raised to open it the springs 58 unwind and rotate the pulleys 54 to wind the cables on the pulleys and thus the spring act to assist in raising the door to open position.

On the contrary as the operator acts to pull the door down to close it the cable is drawn of! the pulleys and causes the latter to rotate in a direction to again wind the spring 58 about their arbors. Thus while the springs 58 assist the operator in opening the door I 2 they tend to hold the door open so that the latter will not fall of its own weight but must be pushed or pulled down to closed position.

Obviously with the edges of the door moving in the guideways as above described there will be frictional resistance to any movement of the door and it is this resistance as well as the weight of the door that the springs 58 help the operator to overcome during opening movement of the door. When the door is open the mentioned friction together with the springs 58 prevent the door casually moving closed and thus there is no danger of the door dropping from an open position onto the hand or arm of an operator who may be reaching into ythe vehicle. "Ih'e door will-'stay in any'desired open position until manually closed.

-Attention 'is particularly directed to the fact that the door ofthe invention does not linvolve thefuse ofsany hinges and the like. The door works smoothly in its movements to and from open position but is not Fhard to moveto open position fas such movement' is assisted'by the springs 58 and the weight of the door helps during closing movement. `II'he door presents an lunbroken surface which may be lettered 'or the :like as '1de'- sired. In this *connection attention is again di#- rected to the fact that the'outer surface of the door is in the form .of a. one-piece panel 3|).

Having thus set forth the nature of my invent-ion, what I `claim is:

'1. A Ivehicle body having a door opening in fits rear end and vertical posts 'at each side of said opening, an outer covering for said body including .portions projecting slightly inwardly 'into the space between said posts, va channel member 'including `vertical portions secured to each of :said posts and Shaving their open sides facing one ancthergsaid members spa'ced slightly from the -projecting edges of said covering whereby to provide vertical slots at each side of the door opening between said members and the projecting edge portions'of the body covering, said channel members including upper horizontal portions extending forwardly in the vehicle body and curved portions connecting said vertical and horizontal portions, said members having openings in their outer flange portions adjacent the upper portion of said door opening, a door comprising inner and outer one-piece panels of metal connected at their lower ends, heat and cold insulating material between said panels, said door having the vertical edge portions of its inner panel against the outer faces of the inner flanges of said channel members, said door when closed having the vertical edge portions of its outer panel in said vertical slots, said outer door panel including a portion extending through the openings in the outer anges of said channel members whereby as the door is raised to open position its upper portion moves completely into the curved and horizontal portions of said channel members, and said door panels resilient whereby to permit of the door moving through the curved portions of said channel members as the door is moved to and from open position. Y

2. A vehicle body having a door opening in its rear end, an outer covering for said body including portions projecting slightly inwardly into said door opening, a channel member including vertical portions at each side of said door opening and having their open sides facing one another, said members spaced slightly from the projecting edges of said covering whereby to provide vertical slots at each side of the door opening between said members and the projecting edge portions of the body covering, said channel members including upper horizontal portions eX- tending forwardly in the vehicle body and curved portions connecting said vertical and horizontal portions, said members having openings in their outer flange portions adjacent the upper portion of the door opening, a door comprising inner and outer one-piece panels of metal connected at their lower ends, heat and cold insulating material between said panels, said door having the vertical edge portions of its inner panel against the outer faces of the inner flanges of said channel members, said door when closed having the F vertical edge v.portions of its outerpanelini-'said vertical slots, `said outer Kdoor panel including a portion extending through the 'openings in vthe outer :flanges of said :channel members whereby as `the .door is raised to open Vposition its upper portion moves completely into the curved and horizontal Vportions .of said channel members, and lsaid door panels resilient whereby to permit of the door moving through the curved portions of said channel members as the 'dooris' shifted to and from fopen position. l

In a vehicle body 'having a door opening in `a 'wall thereof, means including inner and outer walls providing guideways extending ver-tical` ly at each side 'of said door" opening and then curved and extending horizontally inwardlyof the yehic'lebody below the'top thereof, a -do'or mounted with its vertical -edges `in said guideways, `said door comprising a pair'of sheet metal panels arranged in 'substantially parallel rela# tion and connected at their lower ends,- insulating material between saidpanels, said panels re` silient whereby to permit of sliding movement of the door-through the curved portions of said guideways as the ldoor is Araised and lowered to open and Iclose it, a handle on said door adjacent theflower' endfther-.eof and by means of' which the door may be raised and lowered `in said guideways, 'rollers,= meansl mounting said-"rollers on said door adjacent the lower end thereof independent of said panels, and said rollers engaging the walls of said guideways to directly transmit to the latter independent of said panels any inward or outward pressure on the lower portion of the door.

4. In a vehicle body having a door opening in a wall thereof, means providing guideways extending vertically at each side of said door opening and at their upper ends curved and extending inwardly of the vehicle body below the top thereof, a door mounted with its vertical edges in said guideways, said door comprising a pair of sheet metal panels arranged in substantially parallel relation and connected only at their lower ends, insulating material between said panels, said panels resilient whereby to permit of sliding movement of the door through the curved portions of said guideways as the door is raised and lowered to open and close it, and said curved portions of the guideways of greater Width than the remaining portions thereof whereby to facilitate movement of the door through such curved guideway portions.

5. A vehicle body having a door opening in its rear end, an outer covering for said body including portions projecting slightly into said door opening, channel members including vertical portions having their open sides facing one another, said members spaced slightly from the projecting edges of said covering whereby to provide vertical slots at each side of the door opening between said members and the projecting edge portions of the body covering, said channel members including upper horizontal portions extending forwardly in the vehicle body and curved portions connecting said vertical and horizontal portions, said members having openings in their outer flange portions adjacent the upper portion of said door opening, a door comprising inner and outer one-piece panels of sheet metal connected at their lower ends, said door having the Vertical edge portions of its inner panel against the outer faces of the inner ilanges of the channel members, said door when closed having the vertical edge portions of its outer panel in said vertical slots, said outer door panel including a portion extending through the openings in the outer flanges of said'channel members whereby as the door lis raised to open position its upper portion moves completely into the curved and horizontal portions of said channel members, and said door panels resilient whereby to permit of the door moving through the curved portions of the channel members as the door is moved to and from open position.

6. A vehicle body having a door opening in its rear end, an outer covering for said body including portions projecting slightly into said door opening, a member at each side of said opening and extending vertically thereat, said members spaced slightly from the projecting edges of said covering whereby to provide vertical slots at each side of the door opening between said members and the projecting edges of the body covering, said members including upper horizontal portions extending forwardly in the vehicle body and curved portions connecting said vertical and horizontal portions, said members having openings adjacent the upper portion of said door opening, a door comprising a one-piece panel of sheet metal, said door when closed having the vertical edge portions of its panel in said vertical slots, said door panel including a portion extending through the openings in the members whereby as the 'door is raised to open position its upper portion moves completely into the curved and horizontal portions of said members, and said door panel resilient whereby to permitof the door moving through the curved portions of said members as the door is moved to and from open position.

7. Ina vehicle body having a door opening in a wall thereof, means providing guideways extending vertically at each side of said door opening and then curved and extending substantially horizontally inwardly of the body below the top thereof, a door mounted with its vertical edges in said guideways, said door comprising a pair of sheet metal panels arranged in substantially parallel relation and connected only at their lower ends, the outer of said panels imperforate and weather proof said panels resilient whereby to permit of sliding movement of the door through the curved portions of said guideways as the door is raised and lowered to open and close it, said panels above their lower end portions independent of one another to facilitate such sliding movement through the curved portions of the guideways, insulating material between said panels, and a handle on said door adjacent the lower end thereof and by means of which it may be raised and lowered.

PHILIP CARLSON. 

